Who We Are
What is Cause CHANGE?
Cause CHANGE Collaborative is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming the recovery housing sector through financial sustainability and systemic change. We work alongside recovery housing providers, experts, and community partners to promote best practices, improve financial stability, and create lasting impact for individuals in recovery. Our work is guided by our core initiatives, which include delivering rigorous programs focused on high-quality recovery housing environments, collaborating with subject matter experts to advance research and best practices, and driving systems change to improve the impact of recovery housing and related services.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to bridge the critical gap between addiction and early through recovery housing initiatives that promote best practices, further research, and impact systems change.
WHAT WE DO
Through collaborative relationships with community, research, education, and advocacy experts, our primary initiatives include:
Financial Sustainability
Building and strengthening the financial foundations of recovery housing providers.
Best Practices and Standards
Promoting the adoption of best practices in recovery housing operations to ensure safe, supportive environments for individuals in recovery.
Collaboration and Capacity Building
Facilitating partnerships with experts and community organizations to address the challenges facing recovery housing systems.
Research and Data-Driven Insights
Collaborating with experts to advance research and data collection in the recovery housing field.
Advocacy and Systems Change
Advocating for policy changes that support recovery housing sustainability and access to quality care.
Cause CHANGE Collaborative is dedicated to creating sustainable systems that empower individuals in recovery and drive long-term change in the recovery housing system of care.
Our Team
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Julie McElrath, MSSW
President and Chief Cause Officer, Board Member
Julie’s passion is to grow people and build systems to achieve strategic objectives. Skilled in leveraging partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and resources to deliver outcomes, she is known for her collaborative approach to create change. As an experienced nonprofit leader, Julie has spent the last several years demonstrating her working knowledge of nonprofit best practices to develop and refine the recovery support in central Texas, and values rigorous exploration of how to enhance capacity to best serve communities in need. She is resolute in her commitment to volunteer work and focuses her service on efforts that impact system inequities.
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Leah Davies, LMSW
Cause Programs Director
Leah is a proven leader committed to community, social justice, and wellness for all. As a highly experienced nonprofit professional, Leah’s work is focused on community and stakeholder engagement, grant management, volunteer recruitment/retention, public speaking, education, fundraising, event planning, and collaboration building. She is also a dedicated community volunteer and centers her efforts on those facing adversity.
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Justin N. York
Evaluation & Impact Manager
Justin is a results-driven non-profit leader with a focus on impacting positive change in the areas of Recovery Housing, Adult Education and Literacy, Transitional Housing, and Supportive Care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. With a proven track record of success, Justin's leadership was instrumental in spearheading a capital campaign that successfully rebuilt Austin's only AIDS Hospice, ensuring vital care for the community.
Board of Directors
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Board ChairScott Strehli, an Austin native, joined TRI in 2006 and became Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of TRI in November 2014. Prior to TRI, Mr. Strehli spent 11 years in several director and officer level positions in the airline and real estate industries and also lived in Russia overseeing the finance and accounting for a small technology company. Today, Mr. Strehli oversees the strategic direction of TRI and its 10 international subsidiaries as well as TRI’s real estate portfolio. He leads all commercialization efforts associated with internally developed products and services. Mr. Strehli is also currently the co-trustee of the TRI Thornton Foundation and Board Member of Communities for Recovery.
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Board TreasurerDr. Claborn is an academic scientist passionate about improving the addiction system of care through innovative use of health information technology. Kasey has over 15 years of experience working on projects developing and adapting behavioral interventions and health technologies focused on substance misuse among vulnerable populations and has received over $8 million in extramural funding by the National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Texas Health and Human Services.
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Board Member
Dr. Vilsaint is an academic scientist at Harvard Medical School who focuses on addiction recovery science. Corrie serves as Associate Director of Recovery Health Equity at the Massachusetts General Hospital Recovery Research Institute, and principal investigator at Center for Addiction Medicine. As a community psychologist and an international speaker, her research focuses on racial health equity in remission and recovery, reducing recovery-related discrimination, building recovery capital, and the effectiveness of recovery support services.
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Board SecretarySarah Marshall is a seasoned communications professional with an eye for promoting and managing brands – particularly in turbulent times. Sarah has more than 35 years of experience in communications including brand management, media, internal and government relations in the areas of high technology, health care, telecom, energy, consumer and non-profit spaces. Sarah has worked with global companies such as Ivanti, Inc., AMD, Dell, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, LEGO Education and Texas Instruments.. Her not-for-profit work consists of The Austin Center for Grief and Loss, Austin Recovery, Community First Village, Texas 4000, The Children’s Cancer Association and Breast Cancer Resource Center. Sarah is an avid runner and enjoys hiking and yoga.
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Board Member
Kerry founded Boundless Life Sciences Group in 2001 and has helped transform the communications agency into one of the leading medical marketing firms in the country. During the past 24 years, Kerry has recruited top-tier talent to lead Boundless into its third decade, encouraging boldness in its leaders and striving to inspire everyone – clients, staff, and partners – to think creatively about any and all challenges. He believes that every person deserves the opportunity to live a boundless life and strives to make that a key part of the firm’s culture while attracting brands and therapies that want to improve the lives of others. Kerry has been recognized by PharmaVoice Magazine as one of its top 100 inspiring individuals. With a war chest of creative awards, he is particularly proud of the agency’s 3-time nomination as Agency of the Year by MedAdNews.